July mass killing : Sheikh Hasina’s verdict on Nov 17

The International Crimes Tribunal-1 will deliver its verdict in crimes against humanity case against ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and co-accused on November 17.

Around 12:09 PM, a three-member tribunal, led by Chairman Justice Md Golam Mortuza Mozumder, set the date.

Two other accused in the case are former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal and former inspector general of police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun. Out of 84 witnesses, 54 testified during the proceedings of the case held from August 3 to October 8.

Hasina and Asaduzzaman Khan are fugitive. Abdullah Al-Mamun, who turned state witness, was present in the tribunal.

The prosecution sought the maximum punishment for Sheikh Hasina and Asaduzzaman bringing five charges of crimes against humanity, while it left the decision of Al-Mamun’s fate to the tribunal.

Initially, Sheikh Hasina was the sole accused in the case. On March 16 this year, the prosecution appealed to include former IGP Mamun as an accused alongside Sheikh Hasina and the tribunal approved it.

After the Awami League government was toppled on August 5, 2024, the ICT was reconstituted.

The first case in the reconstituted tribunal concerned alleged crimes against humanity during the July uprising, with Sheikh Hasina as the accused.

On June 1, the prosecution formally filed charges against Sheikh Hasina and the two accused. On the day the charges were framed, Mamun admitted his involvement in crimes against humanity during the uprising and applied to testify as a state witness.

Arguments in the case began on October 12 and concluded on October 23.